BDPA hosts ‘Cincinnati Blacks In Technology’ to collaborate with the vibrant community of like-minded technology professionals of color in our city. The doors are wide open for those folks who passionate about all things technical. Our meetups encourage fun, socializing and high level talks on a variety of technology topics. IT recruiters and IT job seekers are both welcome!

As far as you are concerned there may not be much difference between your personal and professional personas. As Popeye and others have said, 'I am what I am' and you may think that people should accept you as you are. However, it is not as simple as that. If you are really serious about managing your career and building your profile you should keep the two separate or at least be savvy about the content of both. This is nothing new. Tom Peters coined the phrase the 'brand called you' in the1990's. What is new today is the concept of career. Our meetup will explore the various ways individuals can create, manage and market themselves as a unique product to differentiate them from the cluttered marketplace.

In a world that is downsizing, rightsizing and where job security is long gone, this has never been so true. People must build their profile and take ownership of their career. To be successful, professionals do not work in isolation; they build and enhance their brand by attracting like-minded contacts and friends who help to build momentum and presence in the marketplace. It is not simply a case of networking, it is about building positive networks t hat add value and these take time and effort to manage so investment on your part is required. Personal brands are therefore as important, if not more so to you, than corporate brands. This takes on a new meaning in the digital world and it is important that you do not let your guard down. If you 'Google' your name what would you find? What does it say about you as a professional; you as a brand?

These are questions that will be addressed by our guest speaker, Crystal Kendrick, owner of The Voice of Your Customer (VOYC). Crystal has more than 20 years of sales, client service and marketing experience and has held leadership positions at three corporations. Crystal holds a BBA from Temple (PA) University and an MBA from Northern Kentucky University. Crystal is also trained in project management; Six Sigma improvement processes and she completed an Executive MBE Training at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

BDPA is blessed to have Crystal sharing her expertise and wisdom with BDPA members at this meetup.